Evaluation of right ventricular function by using tissue Doppler imaging in patients after repair of tetralogy of fallot.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to assess the relation between plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and right ventricular function evaluated by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in patients after repair of tetralogy of Fallot (ToF).

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with a mean age of 14.1 +/- 4.4 years who underwent repair of ToF at a mean age of 4.9 +/- 5.1 years enrolled in this study. The control group consisted of 29 healthy children at a mean age of 13.1 +/- 2.8 years. The right ventricle and pulmonary regurgitation (PR) were assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography and color Doppler. Blood samples for BNP levels were taken and TDI was performed at rest.

RESULTS

Plasma BNP levels were significantly higher in patients than in controls (28.3 +/- 24.1 vs. 7.4 +/- 2.3 pg/mL, P = 0.0001). The myocardial performance index (MPI) (1.08 +/- 0.35 vs. 0.58 +/- 0.11, P = 0.0001) was higher and isovolumic acceleration (IVA) (3.1 +/- 0.7 vs. 5.4 +/- 1.0 m/s(2), P = 0.0001) was lower in patients. The correlations were also significant between the degree of PR and MPI (r = 0.7, P = 0.0001) and also IVA (r =-0.7, P = 0.0001). The correlations were also significant between the BNP level and MPI (r = 0.6, P = 0.0001), IVA (r =-0.4, P = 0.002) and the degree of PR (r = 0.6, P = 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

As a result, plasma BNP level increases in patients with ToF and both MPI and IVA from the right ventricular basal segments might be used to assess the right ventricular function.